Pothole

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has encouraged Mzansi to report potholes on municipal and provincial roads on a newly launched app. Photo: Jacob Ode / Pixabay

Gauteng commits to eliminating potholes but still no word on e-tolls

The Gauteng department of transport has promised to eliminate potholes on roads in the province, but the future of e-tolls still hangs in the balance.

Pothole

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has encouraged Mzansi to report potholes on municipal and provincial roads on a newly launched app. Photo: Jacob Ode / Pixabay

The Gauteng Department for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure has pledged to increase road safety by removing potholes in the province’s road network but there has been no news on the future of e-tolls.

Major rehabilitation projects to remove potholes and improve road safety

Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo announced rehabilitation projects on three major roads in Evaton and Sebokeng in the Sedibeng District Municipality to emphasise the Gauteng transport department’s dedication to its new goal.

Mamabolo also revealed that road upgrades reportedly costing around R14 million would resume on Moshoeshoe Street, Vilakazi Street, and Adams Road as well. These projects include the resurfacing of the roads and are expected to be completed in December 2019.

Speaking at the launch event in Evaton, Mamabolo said that the works were desperately needed by the financially struggling municipality.

“These projects will bring great relief to the people of Emfuleni. We are still continuing with identifying other roads that pose a danger to road users,” he said.

“This is broadly part of a campaign to upgrade the road infrastructure network of our province to make it easier and safer for people and goods to move in the city region.”

Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo

Plans to extend rehabilitation to other areas of Gauteng

The MEC said his department will take the campaign to other development corridors of the province, including the cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg over the month of August.

“The road network constitutes the core of our infrastructure maintenance as they are critical for connecting different parts of the province and integrates them with the national network. Furthermore, they contribute greatly to the economic growth of this corridor,” Mamabolo concluded.

Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo

The future of e-tolls remains undecided

However, there is another cloud hanging over infrastructure development in Gauteng and the term has just about become a swear word in the province: E-tolls.

The debate over the controversial road tax continues to rage despite assurances that a decision would be made, one way or another, in August.

“With all the constraints we are looking at the issues and we will give the report to cabinet, and the President and the citizens, it’s not a one-way process. We have to engage with the stakeholders and then we’ve got to engage with everybody. It’s not next year, August we will be back,” Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula promised in July 2019.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula

With over half of the month already completed there has been no sign that any decision is even close to being made.